The anticipation is already building for baseball fans, as Major League Baseball has officially unveiled the schedule for the 2024 playoffs. Here's what enthusiasts can expect from the thrilling postseason lineup.
Regular Season Conclusion
This year's regular season will wrap up on Sunday, Sept. 29. With the close of the season, teams will quickly pivot their focus to the playoffs, which have undergone some format changes aimed at increasing excitement and competition.
Wild Card Series
The Wild Card Series is set to commence on Tuesday, Oct. 1. One of the significant changes this year is the elimination of the one-game playoffs that previously decided the wild card spots. Instead, fans will be treated to a robust best-of-three format, with each game's intensity heightened by the fact that there will be no travel involved between games.
In this new structure, the third division winner and the top Wild Card team in each league will host all the games in their respective Wild Card Series matchups. The series will continue on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with potential deciding Game 3s slotted for Thursday, Oct. 3.
Division Series Breakdown
The Division Series will start on Saturday, Oct. 5, promising a weekend of back-to-back high-stakes baseball. The top two division leaders in each league will host Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, Game 5 of their respective series, ensuring home-field advantage plays a significant role.
For the National League Division Series (NLDS), Game 2 is set for Sunday, Oct. 6, while the American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 2 will take place on Monday, Oct. 7. The action continues with NLDS Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, and both ALDS Game 3 and potential NLDS Game 4s on Wednesday, Oct. 9. ALDS Game 4 is on the calendar for Thursday, Oct. 10. If the series necessitate further games, NLDS Game 5 will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, and ALDS Game 5 will be contested on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Championship Series Excitement
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) will begin on Sunday, Oct. 13, with Game 2 following on Monday, Oct. 14, alongside the start of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). ALCS Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15. Midweek, fans will see NLCS Game 3 on Wednesday, Oct. 16, and both NLCS Game 4 and ALCS Game 3 on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Potential pivotal moments could occur with ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 5 on Friday, Oct. 18, and ALCS Game 5 on Saturday, Oct. 19. Should the series extend, NLCS Game 6 will see action on Sunday, Oct. 20, with drama possibly reaching a peak on Monday, Oct. 21, for ALCS Game 6 and NLCS Game 7 decisions. ALCS Game 7, if required, will be the final decider on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The Road to the World Series
The playoffs’ culmination, the World Series, will begin depending on the conclusion of the League Championship Series. If the series are wrapped up by Saturday, Oct. 19, the World Series will start on Tuesday, Oct. 22. However, if the schedule runs its course, the first pitch of the World Series is set for Friday, Oct. 25.
Fans can expect World Series Game 2 on Saturday, Oct. 26, followed by a travel day before the action resumes with Games 3 and 4 on Monday, Oct. 28, and Tuesday, Oct. 29, respectively. A potential decisive Game 5 could take place on Wednesday, Oct. 30. If the ultimate series extends to the full seven games, Game 6 will be on Friday, Nov. 1, with the final showdown, Game 7, on Saturday, Nov. 2. The team boasting the superior regular-season record will enjoy the home-field advantage for Games 1, 2, and, if needed, Games 6 and 7.
The 2024 MLB playoffs promise to be a riveting spectacle, with every game carrying immense weight and the potential for unforgettable moments. As the teams prepare and fans gear up for the thrill, the countdown to October has officially begun.